LCWR Welcomes Announcement of Carbon Pollution Standards

August 3, 2015

President Obama and Sister Joan Marie Steadman, CSC at White House Briefing

White House Briefing on President Obama's Clean Power Plan

The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) welcomes the creation of national standards to reduce carbon pollution and mitigate climate change. Such limits are essential to the health and welfare of all people, especially the most vulnerable, and to the wellbeing of our common home.

Climate is a common good given to all and meant for all. Each of us has a responsibility to cooperate with God to protect our common home and to care for all of creation.

“In his Encyclical, 'Laudato Si’, the Holy Father reminds us of our biblical call to live in right relationship and to cooperate with God’s design for our world. When we choose lives of simplicity, hope, and love we honor God’s presence in our world; we grow closer to God and we build the community for generations to come,” said Sister Joan Marie Steadman, CSC, Executive Director of LCWR. "We sincerely hope that President Obama will continue to work with the international community to seek a robust agreement to protect our common home for present and future generations at the 2015 Paris Climate Conference."

Sister Joan Marie was invited by President Obama to be present at the White House on August 3 when he presented his clean power plan. She stood behind the president at the White House briefing and was thanked by him for her leadership in rallying Catholic sisters across America to take on the issue of climate change.

The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) is an association of leaders of congregations of Catholic women religious in the United States. The conference has nearly 1400 members, who represent more than 80 percent of the approximately 51,600 women religious in the United States. Founded in 1956, LCWR assists its members to collaboratively carry out their service of leadership to further the mission of the Gospel in today’s world.